1. Introduction to WWII and the Holocaust A VERY brief history.

2. Why did this happen?  Germany’s economy was really bad after WWI. Hitler found an easy scapegoat in the Jews of Europe. – Anti-Semitism had been running unchecked throughout Europe for centuries. Many had a high standard of living due to historical restrictions placed upon them. Jews were perceived by others as being loyal only to their religion, not to their country.

3. 1933-1939  Nazi party manages to get elected by a small margin of victory.  Hitler, as head of the Nazi party, ends German democracy.  Suspends freedom of speech and right to assembly as “emergency” measures.  Special State Police (gestapo), and Security Police (S.S.) established.  Opposition political leaders executed or assassinated.

4. 1933-1939  In Germany, Jews forced to leave all public (government) jobs. Their citizenship is taken away, and the Nuremberg Laws go into effect taking away many rights.  First wave of Jews, political prisoners, and Jehovah’s Witnesses sent to concentration camps. German Gypsies sent to municipal camps.

5. 1939-1945  Germany invades Poland. WWII begins. Thousand of Polish “intellectuals” murdered.  Handicapped, mentally disabled, and otherwise incurably sick are killed at Hitler’s orders. “Euthanasia” program moves into secrecy after public outcry.  1940: Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Luxemburg, and France fall to Germany.

6. 1939-1945  Italy, Romania, and Hungary join Germany “Axis” powers.  Allies join together: British Commonwealth, United States, free France, and Russia.  Ghettoes, transit camps, new concentration camps, and death camps set up by Germany to deal with the influx of new victims.

7. The Death Camps There were six camps set up for the mass murder of Jews, gypsies, political dissidents, and homosexuals: 1. Belzec4. Chelmno 2. Sobibor5. Majdanek 3. Treblinka6. Auschwitz-Birkenau

8. Confiscated Shoes  http://fcit.usf.edu/HOLOCAUST/GALL31R/15330.htm A warehouse full of shoes and clothing confiscated from the prisoners and deportees gassed upon their arrival.

9. Dachau Inmates  http://fcit.usf.edu/HOLOCAUST/gallery/44062.htm

10. Works Cited  http://gymnasium- heissen.de/projekte/hisprojekt/causes.htm http://gymnasium- heissen.de/projekte/hisprojekt/causes.htm  http://www.ourpeak.com/shofar/html/histor y.html http://www.ourpeak.com/shofar/html/histor y.html